The old inbox is lighting up like the skies on the night of July 4th, and by that I mean I received another e-mail this year, so I am passing on the information in the e-mail, because it is relevant, and because it is local.

Above is the link for the video, which actually took place back on June 6th over at Mendon High School. Seems one Jonathan Allentoff, a local resident aged just 20 years, wrote and conducted the performance for orchestra and chorus. You can read the detailed particulars below the window when you click on the Youtube link, and it is indeed impressive that such an involved piece came out of such a young mind. If you’re interested in more, you can mosey on over to the website here, and learn more about the Allentoff clan and their musical dealings.

On other fronts, kids are out of school and looking for ways to kill time and your wallet. I don’t claim to be a know-it-all on activities, but I can say what my kids are doing, if that helps you (and if you haven’t locked into anything yet). The sportier lad is attending the Baseball and Softball Academy, which started this morning and runs for a week or two. There may still be time to enroll for a later session, but you’ll have to click the link and look for yourself. The older lad, who is of a more technological bent, will be heading to RIT for a video game class, on how to make them. If you’re interested, you can check the site here, and tell them I sent you, and we might both get a break on the cost. Really, you could save a few bucks, but you’ll have to act fast.

Of course, there is always the Pittsford Rec Center, which hosts a slew of programs, and I think I will be signing the kids up for more stuff there, since it doesn’t cost too much, and I’ve always had good luck as far as instructors and all. You can hit the Town of Pittsford site here, and then scroll down to the bottom left for the Rec Center.

I’m sure there are loads of other events going on, so keep your eyes and ears open, because pretty soon everyone will be moaning that the summer blew by like a hurricane, and the leaves will fall soon, and we’ll all be insufferable. Or something like that.

Sometimes, it seems as if there is nothing to do around here, but fortunately this weekend breaks that mold. Tonight is the Grand Opening! (as it were) of the newly renovated Port of Pittsford, and the opening of the summer concert season. If you haven’t been by the Port lately, it’s worth a gander, and the new work should make the area more usable and more fun. Sure, it’s no British Jubilation, but there will be a few boats, and Gap Magione will be there with his band to get the weekend started off right.

Continuing on, Saturday sees the annual “Positively Pittsford” return, a daylong event that is a great place to take your kids and let them run loose. Always a good mix of food, music, and games, and the cost is pretty sweet too (it’s free). Look for the kids from Mendon to kick off the music at noon, followed by Bobby Henry and the Goners (great players, great bunch of guys) at 2, and then blues king Steve Grills and the Roadmasters take the stage at 3:30. Closing up, from 6 to 9 is Orient Express, and I’d say something about them but I’ve never seen them. If you do go, let me know, because I’ll be at a Little League Playoff Game.

Sunday, after they’re done scraping up from celebrating, Ron Bajorek and his band of merry men will be hosting the 3rd annual International Auto and Bike show, where you’ll get a chance to see exotics and classics. There will be raffles and prize giveaways, and it’s a good chance to donate money to needy causes, as well as see some bitchin’ sets o’ wheels.

As an aside, I’ve been having some pc problems lately, which might explain the sparseness of posting. My decades old Dell is heading for formatting heaven, and I’ll be picking up a new machine soon. In the meantime, if you know of anything of interest in Pittsford, feel free to drop me a line here.

moved to Pittsford as a teenager and attended Pittsford-Mendon High School. Her greatest passion is as a lover of and advocate for the arts and music. Donna attended Rhode Island School of Design and earned an MFA from R.I.T. She’s a free-lance art director, advertising photographer and copywriter. Her love of narrative and film has led her to direct and produce short films.

Donna developed her awareness of and concern for environmental issues after being
exposed to the chemicals in artist materials in art schools in the US and Canada which
made her ill for a time. Healthy today, she finds pleasure in nature, writing, and music.
She enjoys Pittsford for its picturesque locations, wildlife, and community involvement.

was born in Rochester, lived here for a while until his dad was transferred to Connecticut ("Thanks, Xerox."). Then a few years later they came back to Fairport ("Thanks again, Xerox."), but Bill went to Pittsford schools. He moved over to Pittsford in 1979. He worked a bunch of jobs, played in bands, went back to MCC and then U of R for a Bachelor's degree in the early 90's. Shortly after that, he moved to NYC with his wife, Laura, where he worked at Ogilvy & Mather and Christie's doing tech support. They moved out to Northern Virginia during the Internet boom, hoping to get rich quick, but missed that boat. They moved back to Pittsford in 2001, along with two boys. Bill still plays guitar with the Chinchillas, the Squeaky Chair Jazz band, and the Steve Greene Trio occasionally.

"Though all communities and areas get a certain reputation (deserved or not), there is a good quality of life here, and the bulk of the people I have met here and places I have been to reflect that," Bill says. "My reason for wanting to blog about the town is at least twofold -- to vent my views and continue with writing, but also to force myself to engage in the environment in which I live. Too many people complain there is nothing to do or see, but they never actually get out and look. I don't want to be like that."